Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 462: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork, has been kept waiting for almost four weeks for a decision on their application for a supplementary welfare allowance towards their rent and is facing eviction due to their failure to meet their rent demands. [10564/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement, is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my Department has any function in respect of decisions on individual claims.

The executive has advised that it received an application for rent supplement from the person concerned on 1 March 2006. It has further advised that it is awaiting the outcome of the local authority's assessment of housing need for the person concerned before it will be in a position to determine whether a rent supplement is payable in this case.

Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 463: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 was refused disability allowance; and if he will review the application in view of the exceptional circumstances. [10591/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned applied for disability allowance on 3 November 2005. The principal conditions for receipt of disability allowance are that the medical eligibility criteria are met and that the means test which applies is satisfied. While he satisfied the medical criteria for award of disability allowance the means of the person concerned which were derived from a private pension and spouse's employment, were in excess of the statutory limit. Accordingly, his claim was refused on 8 March 2006. He was advised of his right of appeal to the independent social welfare appeals office.

Social welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions. Additionally such officers must make decisions in all circumstances in accordance with the legislation that applies.